Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has stated environmentally friendly sustainable development can be achieved. He made the statement at the book launching ceremony of Kuramathi: Quick Guide to Plants in the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Speaker Nasheed noted that many local councils have requested the development of harbours and roads but that development is not always about infrastructure, adding that sustainable development can be achieved in an environmentally friendly manner. He also highlighted the exorbitant cost of completing development projects that involve concrete and that it is a heavy burden to conduct such projects in 2,000 islands.
Furthermore, Speaker Nasheed detailed that one metre of a harbour or coastal protection structure costs USD3,000 but construction of one metre of a reef would only cost USD25 while planting trees on the shoreline would cost USD5. He noted that coastal protection structures are built for the preservation of the islands, same as coral reefs and trees and environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives should be considered. He added that the book launched at the ceremony shows that development can be achieved in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner and he expressed hope that it will change public opinion.
Kuramathi: Quick Guide to Plants in the Maldives was written by Dr. Shafia Aminath and Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa and is a showcase of terrestrial flora. The book imparts information about diverse plant species majority of which are found thriving in Kuramathi Island Resort Maldives.